for everyone who owns an image hosting site i have a question. how do you market them and get traffic? please tell me what is good and bad to do. thanyou in advance.
I would start by adding to niche directories. These would include http://www.imagehostingdirectory.com (disclosure: this is my site), http://www.free-webhosts.com, and http://www.free-image-hosting.info/. I would then post on a few high traffic forums about your site. A press release can also work if you offer unique features. SEO and Adwords can also bring a positive ROI if done correctly.
Totally agree with drig - make sure you offer something a bit different than the turnkey sites offer, get it listed in niche image hosting directories including mine - findimagehost.info the best way to get your image host noticed is to participate in a forum where people tend to share a lot of pictures - and become a member, participate and use your own host for the pictures on the forum. Yes, it does take a bit of commitment but by using it yourself you get your site known. Do this on as many sites as you can participate in for a couple of months. Maybe even pay for a few "sticky" posts in forums that stay in place for a month or 2. Also, get listed in as many "freebie" directories as possible - directories that list free things such as image hosting. Finally, team up with another site that could benefit from your services and "cross promote" the 2 sites driving traffic both ways. If you want to see if your server can handle a bit of a load, then get a few images in a thread on fark - they tend to hammer image hosts somewhat!
I dont accually own one myself allthough i can give you a few tips, i mean its just like advertising any other site, why not head over the the DP market place, buy aload of blog posts, buy alod of myspace bullitens, try improve your google pagerank wich means youll come higher in google also get the site digged and add it to delicious ect.. Also add to many directorys anything that will help your PR. Get bloggers to write about the site using keyterms such as "free image hosting" ect.. And yeah, spread round communitys such as deviantart.com and myspace.com anywere with many members and it the concept of the site could help the members of that communuity ect.. Hope this helps, and good luck
link exchanges, submitting your site to directories, spread the word by your friends on MSN, AIM, ICQ, Post alot in forums with the same niche. That would work
Yeah i agree with Kingnormar, MSN IM ect.. could work. Also if your going to post in forums, post in forums releted to photoshop or something, any were that would be usefull for the members to use your site you know. Maybe photoshop users would like to upload there images ect.. So show other peaple online
I have an image hosting site, i do link advertising, adwords, adbrite, directories, myspace bulletins, and i have my own affiliate program that pays out $0.20 per sign up. Site is 2 weeks old and averages 125 new members a day and 300 new images.
How to add to: http://www.free-webhosts.com?? am i blind? i cant find anythink that lets you submit a new site.